Blc. Chia Lin 'New City' AM/AOS youngster

[silken]

Nice find and bloom!
I've had this one for close to two years but it is one of the slowest growers I have ever seen. I got it from Paramount. Dave, did any of yours come from there? Are yours slow or do you have any tips? It gets the same treatment as my other Catts and has good roots and was recently re-potted. But it was slow before that and is still slow!

[CR7cristiano]

Thank you both. I am very pleased with my purchase indeed. I actually have recently gotten a call from the orchid nursery about another Cattleya a HUUUGE one in a 10" pot that they told me wasnt for sale; but had them ask and they called me this morning to say I can get it and they will hold it for me.
But this 'New City' really is a strong and fast grower. Well at least the ones i see at the nursery and of course this one I have gotten from Mr. Hamilton's. I go weekly to check if their are any new blooms or if any previously closed blooms have opened and the 'New City's' new growths and sheaths develop incredibly fast.
Silken I think you need to increase your fertilizing of the plant. Mr. Hamilton fertilizes everyday and he has been doing this longer than you and I both. You're a catt person so if their is anything you should know, it is that most are vigorous growers, love very bright light, and when in active growth they need alot of assistance by means of fertilizer to maintain a strong & healthy growth habit. In the wild; and i have been doing a lot of research on this Catts are able to get alot of nutrients from the rains, the stones and trees they attach themselves to and the bird droppings as you know south america has tons of bird species as well year round. So it is important that even if you do not water everyday as it doesn't rain every day all year round in the rain forests of South America you must give it those nutrients regularly as they receive them quite often in the wild.
Try this and tell me your results in the next 2 months!
P.S. Always flush with water regularly

[Oscarman]

Originally Posted by silken

Nice find and bloom!
I've had this one for close to two years but it is one of the slowest growers I have ever seen. I got it from Paramount. Dave, did any of yours come from there? Are yours slow or do you have any tips? It gets the same treatment as my other Catts and has good roots and was recently re-potted. But it was slow before that and is still slow!

Hey silken, after checking my inventory, it seems that I have 3 Chai Lin. 2 from Paramount and one from Clouds Orchids.
Chia Lin geneology is 49% C. dowiana. As many know, I LOVE C. dowiana, so I have many dowiana, oconee (44% dowiana) crosses, to name a few.
My grow space is a warm environment and they seem to like it. Do they grow fast......lets say I don't notice that they are growing slow, so they must be keeping up with their benchmates!
There are definately some slow growing catts in my room and I do notice them. Yes I'm talking to you C. dolosa var.alba!

[silken]

Originally Posted by Oscarman

Hey silken, after checking my inventory, it seems that I have 3 Chai Lin. 2 from Paramount and one from Clouds Orchids.
Chia Lin geneology is 49% C. dowiana. As many know, I LOVE C. dowiana, so I have many dowiana, oconee (44% dowiana) crosses, to name a few.
My grow space is a warm environment and they seem to like it. Do they grow fast......lets say I don't notice that they are growing slow, so they must be keeping up with their benchmates!
There are definately some slow growing catts in my room and I do notice them. Yes I'm talking to you C. dolosa var.alba!

Thanks for the info. I've moved mine to a heat mat for the winter. All of my orchids have to reside in the greenhouse and in the winter that is kept cooler. But I have tried to make a little micro climate for some of the less cool tolerant. We'll see if that makes a difference!

[CR7cristiano]

The key thing for you with this Catt Silken is temperature, temperature, and temperature! You seem to be fine with fertilizing etc. Keep it nice and warm! My bloom has faded and I await the current sheath to burst open with the new buds. I think I will just wait for the current bloom to fade on its on rather than cut it off now...I want these new blooms to really develope nicely so I can show off!

P.S. On a side note. Do any of you know of a pure white cattleya with a nice 5" or more size bloom? And I mean PURE white.
Thanks!

[silken]

Originally Posted by CR7cristiano

The key thing for you with this Catt Silken is temperature, temperature, and temperature! You seem to be fine with fertilizing etc. Keep it nice and warm! My bloom has faded and I await the current sheath to burst open with the new buds. I think I will just wait for the current bloom to fade on its on rather than cut it off now...I want these new blooms to really develope nicely so I can show off!

P.S. On a side note. Do any of you know of a pure white cattleya with a nice 5" or more size bloom? And I mean PURE white.
Thanks!

I think I'll move my Blc. Cornerstone 'Fine Circle' to the warm area too as it has a little more than 1/4 Dowiana and hasn't bloomed yet. I am out of warm space tho

Sorry, I don't know a pure white one. They all seem to have a bit of pink or yellow, but someone will help out I bet.

[CR7cristiano]

I have so far found C. Hawaiian Wedding Song 'Virgin' as well as C. Christ Church 'Newberry snow', and to a lesser extent the C. Intermedia var. alba.
But not of those have really large classic cattleya-esque blooms

[CR7cristiano]

The sheath that this one had when I got it which had not yet developed has now come out and developed into two lovely blooms! Enjoy. You can clearly see the further development of the petals on this one with a more ruffled look now and the are bigger and no damage to these!
I have another lead with sheath that is developing rapidly which I also took a pic of.
Note: These both opened in the last 2 days so they arent full yet.